ALBANY, New York (AP) – The governor of New York signed a law Monday aimed at preventing local officials from adopting rules that could suppress people’s voting rights because of their race.
The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, named after the late civil rights activist who represented Georgia in the US House of Representatives, made New York one of the first states to return a version of a process known as “pre-cleansing.” which was eradicated by a remarkable Supreme Court ruling in 2013.
Under the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, states and counties trying to suppress the rights of black voters once had to seek approval from the U.S. Department of Justice before changing voting rules.
The court’s cessation of this practice on the grounds that federal oversight is no longer needed has helped pave the way for many states to introduce new voting rules in recent years.
Local governments or school districts with discrimination records in New York must now be approved by government officials to adopt certain voting policies.
“We will change our election laws so we don’t hurt minority communities anymore,” said Governor Katie Hochul, a Democrat at the Brooklyn bill signing ceremony.
“I am so proud to be here to sign this landmark law. “No country in the nation has stood up for the courage and conviction and strength we have to defend these important rights,” she said.
The new state law will also expand language support for voters who do not use English as their first language, and will also provide legal instruments to combat discriminatory voting provisions.
Efforts by the US Congress to revive parts of the Voting Rights Act failed to pass through the Senate.
Democrats who support New York’s legislation have said such laws are still needed.
“Just last week, several important contests were won across the country by people who deny the validity of the election and who will work to reduce voter access,” said Senator Zelnor Miri.
Adam Lioz, a senior political adviser to the Legal Protection Fund, said the organization has been working for years to pass the legislation.
“We believe this is a way for state leaders to step up and defend their votes at a time when blacks and brown voters are facing the greatest violation of voter rights since Jims Crow,” Lioz said.
The parts of New York that must receive prior permission before changing the voting laws will be determined by government officials based on a formula and a list of conditions in the legislation.
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Maysoon Khan is a member of the Associated Press / Report for the America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a national non-profit service program that accommodates journalists in local newsrooms to report on secret matters. Follow Maysoon Khan on Twitter.
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